I do not believe that the emergency key has a chip in it, but be careful with it, I have heard that it has snapped off in the ignition in some instances.

 

If the plastic key doesn't have a chip, how does it start the car? I thought our cars needed to have a chip to start.

 

i keep mine for when i lock my keys in the trunk.

 

The black plastic key can only be used to unlock the doors. It will not start the car. There is no microchip, and there is no limit to the number of times you can use it. The valet key will start the car, however. This is the grey key.

 

i lost my master key and i have been using my black plastic key for about 2 months and it starts the car and unlocks the doors and trunk.

 

my black plastic key starts the car and unlocks the doors and trunk.

+1

 

Different for US models. European BMW's Don't start with the black plastic key. Here, it only opens the doors/trunk, but it doesn't start or open the glove box...

 

I've got a plastic key that opens the door and starts the car but won't open the trunk/glovebox. Pretty sure it's got the chip because I had to order it from the dealer and wait for it to come in.
This is a U.S. car imported into Canada.

 

my plastic key is grey, and it does have a chip in it.

you can use the plastic key as many times as you want......until it breaks.